Content Options

WASHINGTON - The House passed a bipartisan, bicameral $2 trillion emergency supplemental package Friday to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, And Economic Security (CARES) Act will bring urgently needed relief to families and small businesses across the country, including New Jersey.

The Senate has already passed the bill and President Trump is expected to sign it.

New Jersey will receive over $3.4 billion from the State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund to provide resources to cope with the pandemic. Additionally, New Jersey Transit, which has lost 88% of its ridership, will receive an estimated $1 billion to protect the jobs of employees during this public health emergency.

Sign Up for Hillsborough Newsletter

Our newsletter delivers the local news that you can trust.

You have successfully signed up for the TAPinto Hillsborough Newsletter.

Rep. Tom Malinowski, D-7th, has been a leading voice in preparing for the November elections by ramping up vote by mail and early voting initiatives, and New Jersey will receive over $10 million to support these preparations.

“I am proud to say to my constituents in Phillipsburg and Dover and Clark who are out of work, to our restaurant owners in Somerville and Summit, to our nurses and doctors at Overlook and Hunterdon Medical, that help is on the way,” Malinowski said. “There is still so much more to be done for our local governments, and our hospitals and the healthcare systems, but Congress will keep working to get the American people through this crisis.”

The package includes:

- A $150B State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund: Creates a $150B State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund to provide states and localities additional resources to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. It is estimated that New Jersey will receive $3.4 billion to benefit our state’s residents.

- $260B in Dramatically Expanded Unemployment Benefits: Includes numerous provisions to improve unemployment benefits including providing an additional $600 per week for the next four months, providing an additional 13 weeks of federally funded benefits, and expanding eligibility to include workers in the gig economy and self-employed workers.

- Immediate Direct Cash Payments to Lower and Middle-Income Americans: Provides for immediate, direct cash payments to lower-and middle-income Americans of $1,200 for each adult and $500 for each child, beginning to phase out at an annual income of $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a household. These payments will provide individuals with the cash they need right now to survive with much of the economy currently shut down.

- More Than $375B in Small Business Relief: Provides more than $375 billion in small business relief, including $349 billion for forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees and keep them on the payroll; $17 billion for debt relief for current and new SBA borrowers; and $10 billion in immediate disaster grants.

- More Than $100 Billion in Additional Emergency Appropriations, Including the Following:

- Transit Agencies: Provides $25 billion to transit agencies, which have seen a drastic drop in revenues as social distancing has been implemented. This funding is to be used to protect the jobs of the employees of the transit agencies, funding their paychecks during this public health emergency. New Jersey will receive an estimated $1 billion under this program.

- Election Assistance: Provides $400 million for Election Assistance Grants for states to help prepare for the 2020 elections. Coronavirus is already resulting in the postponement of some primaries and this funding can help states make voting safer for individuals. Funding can be used, for example, to increase the ability to vote by mail, expand early voting, and expand online registration. New Jersey will receive over $10 million for these purposes.

- Child Care and Development Block Grant: Supports child care and early education by providing $3.5 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. New Jersey will receive $62.5 million under this emergency appropriation.

- HUD Emergency Solution Grants: Provides $2 billion for HUD Emergency Solution Grants to states that will be distributed by formula. These grants are designed to address the impact of the coronavirus among individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and to support additional homeless assistance, prevention, and eviction prevention assistance. Of this $2 billion, New Jersey will receive $53 million. In addition, the bill provides an additional $2 billion for these grants that will be allocated by HUD to the most hard-pressed areas.

- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Provides $900 million to help low-income families pay their heating and cooling bills. New Jersey will receive $12 million for this purpose during this public health emergency.

- Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant Program: Provides $850 million for this program, giving additional support to state and local law enforcement agencies, thereby allowing them, for example, to obtain the personal protective equipment and other medical items they may need during this public health emergency. New Jersey will receive $18 million under this appropriation.

- CDC Coronavirus State, Local and Tribal Grants Minimum Awards: Provides about $750 million in CDC State, Local, and Tribal Grants Minimum Awards to help agencies cope with the public health emergency. The minimum award for New Jersey is $15.4 million. In addition, states can apply for additional funds above their minimum award, based on their needs.

TRENTON, NJ -- Some good news for teenagers who have been patiently (and not so patiently) waiting to get their drivers licenses.

Gov. Phil Murphy and Chief Administrator Sue Fulton of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) on Friday announced plans for a phased reopening of MVC facilities, - including the Somerville location - to the public following closures due to the COVID-19 ...

TRENTON, NJ -- Some good news for teenagers who have been patiently (and not so patiently) waiting ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ - New Jersey's death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 12,049 overnight, an increase of 79 more victims, with the number of positive cases increasing to 163,336, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

The Somerset County Department of Health reported Thursday that 4,090 residents have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus since the pandemic hit locally in March, ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ - New Jersey's death toll from the coronavirus climbed to 12,049 overnight, an ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – One dozen local Somerset Patriots players and a few who'd like to join the team gathered at TD Bank Ballpark on a hot and humid Thursday for the first workout of 2020, an opportunity provided by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order on May 26th allowing professional sports franchises to resume practices,

“Right now it is all about doing it the right way and the safe ...

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – One dozen local Somerset Patriots players and a few who'd like to join the team ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ - The Frontline Appreciation Group of Somerville has made its final delivery of food to the medical staff at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital/Somerset after three months of supporting not only the hospital workers, but area restaurants whose businesses have been impacted by closure orders from Gov. Phil Murphy, which are being partially lifted on June 15.

Shawn Temple, a ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ - The Frontline Appreciation Group of Somerville has made its final delivery of food ...

SOMERVILLE, NJ - The Somerset County Department of Health reported Thursday that 4,075 residents have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus since the pandemic hit locally in March, an increase of 9 overnight, with the death toll at 422.

The US Centers for Disease Control this morning reported 109,639 COVID-19 deaths in the United States, with a total of 1,910,843 cases. Worldwide, there are ...

TRENTON, NJ – When your favorite steakhouse or burger joint opens for outdoor dining next week, limited seating, spread out tables and hand sanitizing stations – not to mention the house specialty – will be on the menu.

Gov. Phil Murphy outlined a series of guidelines Thursday for the thousands of bars and restaurants across the state to follow when they begin to welcome back patrons on June ...

FRANKLIN, NJ - Two 19-year-olds have been arrested and face murder and weapons charges in the death of Dominic J. Frederick, 25, Winston Drive, who was found shot in his vehicle after it crashed into a residence on Foxwood Drive on May 25, 2019.

The year-long investigation led to the arrest of Trey Hyman, of King Road, Somerset, and Gavin Owens-Jones, 19 of Peoples Line Road, Somerset both of ...

FRANKLIN, NJ - Two 19-year-olds have been arrested and face murder and weapons charges in the death ...

Newman was nominated by the Rotary Club of Hillsborough for the extraordinary community service that she offers through her Hillsborough-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to inspiring the community to pay their blessings forward and ...